Automatic circuit-control apparatus.



M. BARRON.

AUTOMATIC CTRCUIT CONTROL APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 29. 1913.

1,157,663, Patented Oct. 26, 1915.

gwomflroz G La a MELVIL BARRGN, F ROGERS, TEXAS.

AUTOMATIC omcm'r-con'raon Arraaarns.

. I Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented (lot. 26, 1915.

Application filed November 29, 1913. Serial No. 803,845.

. To all whom it may concern: 1

Be it known that I, Mmlvnl BARRoN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Rogers, in the county of Bell and State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Circuit-Control Apparatus, of which the following is a specification. v I

My present invention relates to automatic circuit control apparatus designed to automatically control a circuit by electro-magv netic means energized by current taken from the circuit controlled.

The principal object of my invention is to provide apparatus whichiwillprovide for the alternate making and breaking of a cir-' cuit for the current by the making of the circuit in electro magnetic means forming a part of the apparatus. For instance, the apparatus is well adapted for use in connection with electric lighting systems where it is desirable to, alternately cut out and bring into circuit a section thereof with the main source of energy at each making of the circuit of the main source of energy through the apparatus.

A further object of the invention is to provide apparatus which may be constructed,

utilizing certain assembled mechanisms now on the market, if desired, and adjustableto provide for successful operation.

Other obj ects will appear in the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, formin apart of this specification, ,and in whicfi drawmg a t Figure 1 is a front elevation of apparatus constructed according to my invention. Fig. 2 is a sectional view on the line 2-2 and C are conductively connected by a wire l, while poles B and C are conductively connected by a wire 5 in which is interposed the switch D. This switch may be of any suit able type particularly adapted to alternately make and break the circuit through wire 5,

and as disclosed in the drawings, is of the well known pull socket type, the terminals of which are. bridged by a wire and includes I the regular flexible member 6 the switch.

The switchD iscontrolled by electro-magnetic means E which maiy comprise a solenoid 7; a hollow core 8 and a reciprocable armature 9. 'It is to be understood that, when the solenoid is energized the armature 9 is retracted. One pole of the solenoid is conductively connected with conductor 5 as by wire 10, while the other pole is conductively connected with means F, hereinafter to be more specifically described, as by wire 11. The armature 9 is operatively'connected with the switch D, as through rod 12 guided by brackets 13 and 14 mounted upon base A.

As shown in the drawing, the flexible member 6 is connected with rod 12through the instrumentality of a U-shaped element 15,1which element comprises two angular connectors, the one leg of which slides in for operating r screw. 16 passed therethrough to secure the of Fig. 1'. Fig. 3 is a'fragmentary sectional view on the line 33 of Fig. 1.

In the drawings, 'where similar characters refer. to similar parts, A designates a suitable base, preferably of insulative material, upon which are mounted poles B and B for the leads from the mains, C and C poles for the leads of the load, a switch D interposed in a conductor intermediate poles B and C, electro-magnetic means E for controlling switch D, electromagnetic means for controlling means E and designated by character F, and, means G for adjusting the action of means E upon switch D.

As disclosed in the drawing, the poles B an extent as flexible member 6 in connection with the one leg of the element. The rod 12 may be connected to the element 15 in any suitable manner, however, I prefer to provide screw threads on its lower end to receive'the nuts 17 and 18, disposed at each side of the head of this element 15, through which the rod 12 extends This provides for adjustment so that, upon retraction of the armature 9 the flexible vmember 6 will be moved to such 7 to I successfully operate the switch D. t

- The amplitude of reciprocation of armature 9 may also be controlled by means of the elements shown at G, and of which 19 is a bracket having an elongated slot 20 therein to receive the shank of screw 21 turning into base A. This bracket 19 carries a set screw 22 extending into the hollow core 8 of solenoid 7 and retained in a rigid position with,

respect to the bracket as by a nut 23. It is obvious that either the bracket itself can be moved to extend the set screw 22 within the said hollow core, or the screw itself may be adjusted with respect to the bracket so that upon retraction of armature 9, it comes into contact with the set screw.

The means F comprises an electro-magnet 24 having a core 25; a switch F for controlling the circuit of solenoid 7; and, an armature 26 for co-action with electro-magnet 24 and operatively connected with switch F to actuate the same as hereinafter set forth. The electro-magnet 24 bridges the conductors 4 and 5, as by wires 27 and 28, so that it is energized whenever a current is conducted by these wires. The switch F is preferably of knife type, and includes a blade 29 pivoted as at 30; a fork 31 for blade 29; and, a guide 32 for the blade 29. The blade 29 is placed in conducting communication with conductor 4 as by wire 33 while the fork 31 is in conducting communication with one pole of the solenoid 7 as by wire 11. In the example shown, the armature 26 is carried by blade 29 and this blade normally engages the fork 31 so that a circuit is completed through the solenoid 7. Any suitable means may be provided to normally retain the blade in engagement with this fork or, as shown in the drawing, itmay drop to this position by gravity. The armature 26 is so disposed that when the blade is in a normal position, this armature is not within the magnetic flux paths, so that the switch is opened by action of the electro-magnet 24 only when this armature is moved to come within the magnetic-flux paths.

It is essential that the armature 9 return to a normal position for again operating switch D after each operation of the said switch. For this reason, the means F is provided to break the circuit of the solenoid after the switch D has been operated. In the example shown, I extend the blade 29 transversely with respect toand laterally of the axis of solenoid 7 and provide an arm 34 which is movable with the armature 9. This arm may be adjustably carried by rod 12, and retained in an adjusted position as by set screw 35. The position of arm 34 may be so adjusted that, as the armature 9 is retracted it engages the blade 29 but does not break the circuit through switch F until switch D has been successfully operated. Furthermore, the actuation of blade 29 by arm 34 is such as to bring armature 26 within the magnetic flux paths of the core 25 and for this reason, whenever the electro-magnet 24 is energized, the blade 29 is held from its normal position.

The operation of the apparatus is as follows :Assuming that no current is being conducted by wires 4 and 5, the elements are at rest as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawing. In this connection it is also to be assumed munication with a source of energy, such as by closing a switch at the main station, a current is conducted through solenoid 7 and armature 9 is retracted. This movement of the armature operates switch D so that it becomes closed and the circuit is completed through the load conductively connected with posts C and C. It is also to be noted that a current is conducted through electro-magnet-24 but its core has no influence upon the armature 26 until the armature 9 has moved to such an extent as to operate switch D and arm 34 actuates blade 29, bringing the armature 26 into the magnetic flux paths of the electro-magnet 24. The armature is at once drawn toward the core 25 and the circuit through solenoid 7 is broken. The armature 9 together with appertaining parts then drop by gravity and are in readiness to again operate switch D.

The blade 29 is held out of engagement with fork 31 so long as a current is conducted by wires 4 and 5, because of the electro-magnet 24 bridging the wires. Assuming now that the wires'4 and 5 are cut out of conducting communication with the source of energy, then the blade 29 will again return to a normal position, and when the wires 4 and 5 are again placed in conducting communication with the source of energy the armature 9 will again pass through the same phase of movement as hereinbefore described. However, its action upon switch D will be to open the same,

instead of close the same, inasmuch as this switch is particularly designed to alternately make and break the circuit of the load.

From the foregoing it is made manifest that, upon each energizing of the coils of solenoid 7 the switch D is either opened or closed and that this alternate opening and closing of the switch continues at each successivev placing of the wires 4 and 5 in circuit with the main source of energy.

Changes in detail may be made Without.

departing from the spirit or scope of my invention, however, I

I claim 1. In automatic circuit control apparatus,

bringing said armature into the magnetic flux paths of said electro-magnet after each operation of said first mentioned switch.

2. In automatic circuit control apparatus, the combination of a switch adapted to alternately make and break the circuit of the load, a solenoid, a slidable armature therefor, means for controlling the amplitude of vibration of said armature, means operatively connecting said armature with said switch to operate the same upon each energization of said solenoid, and electro-magnetic means for breaking the circuit of said solenoid at each retraction of said armature, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In automatic circuit control apparatus, the combination of two conductors adapted for connection with the source of energy and the load, a switch adapted to alternately make and break the circuit through one of said conductors, an electro-magnet bridging said conductors, a solenoid, a reciprocable armature therefor, means operatively connecting said armature with said switch to operate the latter at each retraction of said armature by said solenoid, means conductively connecting one pole of said solenoid with one of said conductors, a second switch having one point in conductive communication with the other of said conductors and its other point in conducting communication with the other pole of said solenoid, said switch being normally closed, an armature for said electro-magnet and operatively connected with said switch but normally out of the magnetic flux paths of said electro-magnet, and means movable with said first mentioned armature to operate said second mentioned switch to bring said second mentioned armature within the magnetic flux paths of said electro-magnet after operation of said first mentioned switch.

4. In automatic circuit control apparatus, the combination of two conductors adapted for connection with the source of energy and the load, a switch adapted to alternately make and break the circuit through one of said conductors, an electro-magnet bridging said conductors, a solenoid, a reciprocable armature therefor, means operatively connecting said armature with said switch to operate the latter at each retraction of the armature by said solenoid, means conductively connecting one pole of said solenoid with one of said conductors, a knife switch having one point in conducting communication with the other of said conductors and the other point in conducting communication with the other pole of said solenoid, said switch being normally closed and having its blade extending transversely with respect to and laterally of the axis of reciprocation of said armature, an armature for said electro-magnet carried by the blade of said second mentioned switch, said second mentioned armature being normally out of the magnetic flux paths of said electromagnet, and an adjustable arm movable with said first mentioned armature to en gage the knife of said second mentioned switch to bring said second mentioned armature within the magnetic flux paths of said electro-magnet after each operation of said first mentioned switch.

In testimony whereof I hereby aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

MELVIL BARRON.

Witnesses:

B. B. CHAPPELL, G. L. J ONES. 

